Wednesday, May 30, 2007

These paragraphs, from an article in The Politico yesterday, are so common they barely register anymore.

Giuliani has tried to appeal to social conservatives, embracing their agenda by pledging to appoint “strict constructionists” to the Supreme Court, using Justices John G. Roberts Jr. and Samuel A. Alito Jr. as examples. Conservatives expect “strict constructionists” to determine that the Constitution does not mandate abortion rights.

But, like Dwight Eisenhower’s in 1952, Giuliani’s national security stature after the Sept. 11 attacks more likely explains his continued popularity within the religious right, whose voters have long held hawkish positions on the issue. (emphasis added)

Eisenhower was the Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II. Giuliani was mayor of New York on 9/11. Eisenhower’s national security stature was earned by defeating the Nazis and helping save the world. Giuliani’s national security stature is a media creation, bolstered by clever public relations. To put the two in the same sentence is comical.

(Final bold sentence my own emphasis)

Yes he appeared on TV after the attacks, and he appeared steady. We were calmed by his presence. But it is a disgrace to those who died and served on that day to let guiliani make a "presidential" or "electable" or "tough on terrorism" persona of himself on the backs of those victims.